New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc in countries across the world — the latest count being over 10 crore cases and more than 23 lakh deaths.
California has surpassed New York to become the state with the highest number of Covid deaths in the US, while Spain recorded its largest daily death count in the past 24 hours. South Korea is getting pets tested for the virus.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic.
Canada’s largest companies start mass testing
Some of Canada’s largest companies have launched a rapid testing programme with the aim of protecting their 350,000 employees, The Age reported.
The 12 companies, including Canada’s biggest airline Air Canada and grocery chain Loblaw Companies Limited, have created a 400-page operating manual on how to run rapid antigen tests in various work settings after collaborating for four months. They began piloting the tests in their workplaces last month and expect to expand the programme to 1,200 small and medium-sized businesses.
These companies also plan to share their test results with government health authorities, raising test counts in the country and providing an informal study of the virus’ spread among asymptomatic people. The companies were brought together by Ajay Agrawal, founder of the University of Toronto’s Creative Destruction Lab, which helps science and technology startups.
Canada has seen 810,797 coronavirus cases, out of which 39,179 are active cases. The country has recorded 20,909 deaths due to the pandemic.
Seoul approves Covid test for pets
The South Korean capital of Seoul will start testing cats and dogs for Covid-19 weeks after South Korea reported its first case of a Covid-19 infected cat, Al Jazeera reported.
A health official from Seoul was quoted as saying that the tests will be conducted near the pet animals homeS by a team of health workers, including a veterinarian. Only cats and dogs exhibiting symptoms, such as fever, coughing, breathing difficulties will be tested. If a pet tests positive, it will be required to quarantine at home for 14 days. If the owner is unable to take care of it, the pet will be taken for isolation at a city-run facility in Seoul.
South Korea has reported 81,930 Covid cases so far, out of which 8,218 are active.
Also read: South Korea eyes rich nation status as economy holds up
Spain sees highest daily death toll
Spain has recorded more than three million Covid-19 cases, while also registering 766 deaths over the past 24 hours – the highest daily death toll of the current third wave, Guardian reported.
However, the number of cases per 100,000 people over the past fortnight continued to decrease, falling from 667 to 630 over the past 24 hours. The health authorities have administered more than 21 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine, out of which over 7,86,000 people have received both the doses.
The total number of cases have reached 3,005,487 and the death toll is at 63,061.
Ghana’s parliament shuts down after virus outbreak
After at least 17 MPs and 151 staff members of Ghana tested positive for Covid-19, Parliament has suspended most of its activities for three weeks, BBC reported.
Speaker Alban Bagbin told Parliament, “Having regard to the upsurge in coronavirus cases in the House … I have, in consultation with leadership, decided that the sitting of the House be suspended for three weeks”.
President Nana Akufo-Addo had warned in January that infection rates were skyrocketing in the country and were threatening to overwhelm Ghana’s health system.
Ghana has reported 73,003 Covid infections and 482 deaths.
California surpasses New York to become US state with most number of Covid deaths
California has averaged 433 deaths per week due to coronavirus and has become the state with the highest number of deaths leaving behind New York, The New York Times reported.
As the most populous state in the US, California has by far the most cases in the country — more than 3.4 million — and now the most deaths. However, as per its population rate, California has a lower death rate than 31 states in the US and Washington DC.
The total case count in the US has reached 27,799,946, the highest in the world, out of which 9,680,957 are active cases.
What else we are reading:
Coronavirus vaccine side effects: What are people reporting?: The Jerusalem Post
Face masks to be scrapped in NSW in all but one setting: The News Daily
Also read: Counterfeit vaccine scandal raises doubts over China-made shots & other global Covid news